I would like to know if there are any effects on children who's
parents have made them use their non-dominant hand, (like children who
are born left handed being forced to use their right hand). I am most
interested in the short and long term psychological effects. Some
supplemental information on things like physical effects would also be
useful. Weblinks are important, and a simple summary of what was found
out would be enough. Thanks.

Thi sis not scientific evidence, of course, but I know three people
who were taught to use their non-dominate hand. All three are of
different generations. All are now able to use both hands for almost
everything, and they see this ability as a positive thing.

Kriswrite

Not exactly the scientific research you were looking for, but.....

I was "born" left-handed, but was trained by my immigrant parents to
use my right hand only (they have said it was viewed that only
ignorant people were left handed!).  Like kriswrite commented, I can
use both hands for most everything, although I still favor my right
hand.  It was most noticable in sports, where I could switch-hit on my
softball team and my golf game is pretty good as a right handed golfer
since my left hand was strong as well.  I too view it as a positive
attribute, although my handwriting is quite sloppy.

Now, my husband will tell you all this handedness stuff has made my
indecisive and crazed at times, but I think he's just jealous because
I can almost beat hime in golf....

happytobeme

Hi Albino,

For what my observation is worth, I recall a left-handed girl in
primary school. OK, late '60's.

Her mother would come to the classroom to oversee that she was forced
to write right-handedly. This would not be allowed nowadays of course.
Even as a kid, I wondered why it was allowed then.

With respect to the other posters here, I felt for that kid. Imagine
being the odd-one out, being seen as different in a "bad" way, when in
fact many left-handers and naturally ambidextrous people are quite
talented. Then your Mother enters the room !!!! in front of a room
full of kids. I reckon this served more damage than good by the way it
was carried out. I hope that girl has excelled beyond her Mother's
narrow thoughts.

There are books by Dr Margaret Clark and Dr Stanley Coren about left
handedness, which address your question. The Clark book dates from the
1970s and the Coren is later.
One potentail problem is that left-handers who are forced to use their
right hands are at risk of developing a stammer. King George VI was an
example of this. He was clearly lefthanded - he used his left hand to
play tennis at the Wimbledon doubles tournament in his youth - but was
forced to write with his right hand.

I think it depends entirely on how children are taught to use their
non-dominant hand. If they are told "left is bad" and are punished for
using their left hand, then of course this will make them feel badly
and they may develop other issues (like stammering). However, if it's
taught in a more positive way, then the end results are positive, too.

Kristina

A girl in my class (when I was a boy) is a lefty who was forced to
learn to write with her right hand. Then, later, a different teacher
forced her to write with her left hand. She now writes upside down.